2007 Professional Development Program

The following sessions can be held at your school or agency - please contact us for more information.

Training in TAC- Kindergarten and TAC-Pre primary

Handwriting Tips and Tools for Teachers

Speech Sounds and Cued Articulation

Essential Development for Learning

Teacher Assessment of Movement - Kindergarten

       Speech and Language Professional Development: Training in TAC- Kindergarten and TAC

       Pre primary Screening Tool and Intervention

The first Teacher Assessment of Communication was developed in 1998 for the kindergarten age group (TAC-K) in response to requests from teachers to have oral language goals that would assist in the long term outcomes for children. In 2002 the TAC-K was officially published by Next Challenge and has been used extensively by teachers to screen and implement oral language goals. 

The TAC-Preschool (TAC-P) was researched over 2006 and will be launched this year with an extension of  the oral language skills expected in the TAC-K.

The TAC screening tools are designed as a collaboration between Teachers and Speech Pathologists with scoring and analysis needing to be completed by a Speech Pathologist.  To access this service from Next Challenge see here.

Purchase of a TAC-K or TAC-P can be made at the session or using this order form.

Handwriting Tips and Tools for Teachers

Session 1:         Kindy to Year1

Session 2:         Year 2 to 4

Handwriting is a complex skill requiring integration of posture, gross motor, fine motor and cognitive skills. For a child is is a vital skill required to demonstrate their academic learning. This session will provide Teachers with the means of evaluating and assisting children in their classroom to develop optimum handwriting skills.

Speech Sounds and Cued Articulation

     Cued Articulation developed by Jane Pasey is a simple hand system for cueing children to the accurate sound they  need – for their own speech production or to enhance their phonological awareness. This session will outline principles of the speech sounds and use of cued articulation techniques.

This will be a “hands on” session covering the speech sounds, their “groupings” and the cues that have been designed for them – and how to implement them in the classroom for speech and phonological awareness skill development

Essential Development for Learning

Many children are entering schools without achieving the basic developmental skills in communication, fine motor, gross motor and emotional control required in a classroom. This session will provide teachers with the developmental continuums needed to progress a child's skills. Using an integrated model of developmental leaning this workshop will assist teachers recognize and progress a child's developmental skill level in preparation for formal learning.

Teacher Assessment of Movement - Kindergarten

As part of our screening and intervention program for essential developmental skills - this tool helps teachers identify and prioritize children with gross motor development that may impede their learning potential. Core skills and strength are essential components for a child to focus and work in the classroom. This workshop will be full of practical assessment and follow up ideas for teachers to ensure their class has a stable body posture and strength for optimum learning.

The TAM screening tool has been designed as a collaboration between Teachers and Physiotherapists with scoring and analysis needing to be completed by a Physiotherapist.  To access this service from Next Challenge see here.

Purchase of a TAM-K can be made at the session or using this order form .

Please register your interest in a school based presentation session above or related topics by emailing us on enquiries@nextchallenge.com.au